As Hurricane Florence makes landfall in the Carolinas, the Office of Personnel Management is reminding federal employees about the various human resources flexibilities available during hurricane season and other emergency situations.

In a memo sent by OPM Director Dr. Jeff Pon, the agency outlined several important options available to federal workers in the event of bad weather or disaster assistance.

A copy of the memo is included below.

Weather and Safety Leave

Under the regulations, an agency may grant weather and safety leave when it has determined that employees cannot safely travel to, or perform work at, their normal worksite, a telework site, or other approved location because of severe weather or another emergency situation.

Weather and safety leave is a form of paid time off authorized under the Administrative Leave Act of 2016. It will generally be used in conjunction with an operating status announcement issued by an employing agency—or by OPM for the Washington, DC area.

It is important to note that, under the new statute and regulations, an agency normally will not be able to provide weather and safety leave to a telework program participant who is not prevented from working safely at an approved telework site during severe weather or other emergency situations. Generally, employees with the ability to telework will not receive weather and safety leave as they are not prevented from performing work at an approved location. This new provision will apply regardless of what is stated (or not stated) in the employee’s telework agreement and in agency policies and agreements.

Exceptions to this rule can be found in OPM’s regulation. See 5 CFR part 630, subpart P, and the related Federal Register notice at 83 FR 15291 for more information.

Telework

OPM’s weather and safety leave regulations emphasize the importance of telework in allowing employees to continue working during severe weather or other emergency situations. Telework continues to play a significant role during emergency situations by enabling a greater number of Federal employees to work and supporting continuity of operations.

Agencies should continue to promote and incorporate telework into their agency emergency planning. We strongly encourage agencies to take steps to ensure that telework-ready employees are prepared to effectively telework and have access to agency IT systems and networks, as may be necessary, should an emergency or weather condition so warrant. See the Telework Guidance at Telework.gov.

Evacuation Payments

Executive agencies may authorize advance payments, continuation of pay, and payments for travel and subsistence expenses to employees who are ordered to evacuate from an area because of imminent danger to their lives as a result of a severe weather condition or other emergency situation. Use of the evacuation payments authority is discretionary. The head of an employing agency or designated official must make the determination that an employee was officially ordered or authorized to evacuate.

Emergency Leave Transfer Program (ELTP)

In the event of a major disaster or emergency as declared by the President that results in severe adverse effects for a substantial number of employees, OPM may establish an Emergency Leave Transfer Program (ELTP).

Under this program, Federal employees may donate annual leave to employees of the same or other agencies who are adversely affected, or have family members who are adversely affected, by the disaster or emergency. Agencies that have employees in need of assistance should contact their headquarters to report the need. OPM, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget, will work with agency headquarters to assess the need to establish an ELTP.

Other Human Resources Flexibilities

OPM released an updated version of the Human Resources Flexibilities and Authorities Handbook in August 2013. The Handbook provides detailed summaries and references for the many HR flexibilities and authorities which OPM administers. Please also see our web page that provides additional guidance regarding emergency situations.

Want to see more articles like this one? Sign up for FedSmith's free email lists!